7 Spring 2026 Anime That Could Be Bigger Than Frieren

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is one of the biggest anime of 2026, not just in the 2026 winter season. The second installment of the popular adventure anime took many viewers on yet another contemplative ride, with a sprinkle of action and comedy. Now that the seasons have changed, a bunch of anime from the spring season are taking over.

After all, the spring 2026 season is full of new and returning isekai anime, some of which are widely anticipated for their new story arcs that are expected to break the internet. The season also boasts a wide variety of romance, fantasy, and shonen anime that have the potential to compete with Frieren’s fame and success in many ways. That said, here are the spring 2026 anime that could be bigger than Frieren.

One Piece: Elbaph Arc

Avid fans of One Piece are excited to watch the pilot episode of the Elbaph Arc, where Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates have dreamt of visiting since the Little Garden arc. This is the island of giants, the place Broggy and Dorry spoke so highly to Luffy and Usopp about, describing legendary battles, towering warriors of the sea, and a culture unlike anything they have seen before.

More than that, fans are thrilled to welcome new cast members to the One Piece family, such as Loki, Scopper Gaban, and Shamrock, to name a few. These characters are announced to join with top-tier voice actors who will bring the Elbaph Arc even more epic and memorable.

Re:Zero Season 4

Whether you’re team Emilia or team Rem, you’re probably excited about the upcoming return of Re:Zero and its main character, Natsuki Subaru, this spring season. The fourth season of Re:Zero will air 19 episodes, and while that’s less than expected, the new story arc is guaranteed to pack a punch from beginning to end.

Following the attack of the Witch Cult on Priestella, Subaru and the Emilia Camp challenge the vast desert of the isekai world, where a watch tower serves as both their destination and their greatest obstacle. Inside the watch tower lies an all-knowing sage, said to be the only one who holds the solutions to their problems.

TenSura Season 4

To this day, TenSura season 4 remains an underrated isekai anime despite its rich lore, incredible world-building, and likeable characters. The slime anime has been around for quite a long time, but for some reason, it doesn’t get the same love and attention from isekai fans, especially those who nicknamed it as “slime meeting isekai.”

Fortunately, the first episode of TenSura defies expectations, delivering lighthearted moments and ominous scenes that hint at the challenges awaiting Rimuru Tempest and his allies. Plus, the new ED of this isekai anime is the best one so far, inviting fans to return to this slime anime.

Wistoria: Wand and Sword Season 2

The 2026 spring season also welcomes Wistoria: Wand and Sword Season 2 to its incredible anime lineup. This fantasy anime has steadily earned a devoted following thanks to its high-quality animation courtesy of BN Pictures and studio Actas, well-choreographed fight scenes, and compelling protagonist whose growth keeps the viewers invested from start to finish.

It’s not difficult to like Will Serfort, the MC of Wistoria: Wand and Sword. In a magic-dominated world, he is the Asta of Wistoria, the lead character who can’t use magic but has the physical strength, speed, and endurance to wield a sword. Join Will Serfort in the second season of Wistoria, as he continues to chase his dream of becoming a Magia Vander like the love of his life.

Witch Hat Atelier

The studio behind Zom 100, Bug Films, finally returns with Witch Hat Atelier in the 2026 spring season. This time, the studio seems determined to avoid any unnecessary production delays to deliver Coco’s story as an aspiring witch, capturing every spell, secret, and magical encounter with quality animation and unique flair.

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Fans of Frieren will probably get a blast watching Witch Hat Atelier this season, as the world itself is a magic-dominated one, and the main character is fond of learning new spells, magic experimentation, and facing challenges that will test her courage and ingenuity.

Daemons of the Shadow Realm

For context, Daemons of the Shadow Realm is a dark fantasy, supernatural anime based on the manga of the same name by the legendary Hiromu Arakawa, the brains behind the shonen masterpiece, Fullmetal Alchemist. If that isn’t enough reason to get you sold to this new anime, just wait until you see the intense battles and the dark storylines that keep readers hooked.

Daemons of the Shadow Realm introduces new anime siblings, who don’t use alchemy like Edward and Alfonse but can control supernatural beings called Daemons. This time, viewers will follow Yuru and Asa, twins destined to save the world. However, it’s not an easy responsibility, especially if they don’t know anything about their blood relations.

Akane-Banashi

Just like Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, the premise of Akane-Banashi isn’t exactly for everyone, but that’s what makes it unique among the 2026 spring anime lineup, combining traditional Japanese performance art with deep emotional moments and humor unlike anything else on air.

Akane-Banashi promotes the art of rakugo, with its main character, Akane Osaki, doing her absolute best to master the craft that her dear father loves the most. After Akane’s father, Shinta, gets expelled from the rakugo world, she takes it upon herself to restore his honor and fulfill their shared dream, no matter how difficult the journey becomes.